‘Vegan’ Filmmaker James Cameron, attends dolphin show to promote Avatar 2, faces backlash

December 16th, 2022

Some of the most intelligent creatures on the planet are dolphins, which are sea mammals. They are the centre of attention in the majority of marine animal presentations in aquariums, oceanariums, zoos, and theme parks thanks to their impressive abilities. Visitors attend such shows to watch dolphins swim or be fed at the dolphinarium, while some watch them act in the performances. Many individuals, however, are against keeping these intelligent animals in captivity as they plead for their freedom. They are suffering a lot more than we might imagine and this is precisely why vegan filmmaker James Cameron of Avatar fame has been facing brickbats lately.

James Cameron, who became vegan 10 years ago, has caused controversy after going to a "dolphin show" as part of the Avatar: The Way of Water marketing tour. The filmmaker had previously been a strong member of the vegan community. Read on for a deeper insight into the incident.

James Cameron and Avatar: The Way of Water Cast attend a dolphin show

Along with the actors Jon Landau, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang, the filmmaker was promoting the new movie in Tokyo, Japan. They all attended a marine park show with an Avatar theme as part of the press conference. "Welcome to Pandora," Cameron said to begin the event (referring to the fictional world the movies are set in). Several dolphins performed "tricks" during the presentation, and one even made an appearance dancing alongside a trainer.

However, dolphins kept as pets reside in little tanks. It's crucial to realise that dolphins can cover great distances in the waters (some species up to 200 kilometres a day). Dolphinarium critics contend that visitors learn little about dolphins and only pay attention to the show, which has little to do with the dolphins' daily lives in the ocean. This issue is comparable to that faced by other domesticated animals in circuses.

The widespread backlash

The director's choice to attend the show has drawn criticism from the animal rights organisation PETA. PETA US Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said: “James Cameron waited 13 years for the development of the right technology to bring the underwater world of Pandora to life. So why on Earth didn’t he pause for just five minutes to consider whether he should have allowed himself to be seen as endorsing the cruelty of marine parks? Confining far-ranging dolphins to concrete tanks and using them as surfboards – riding on their faces in circus-style shows – is something the villains of Avatar would do. PETA urges him to reject such animal misery outright and encourages everyone to
shun these cruel parks.”

The lesser-known downside of dolphin shows

Few people are aware of that fact that many dolphins are killed and injured as a result of dolphin hunting. Dolphins who don't meet the aesthetic standards of dolphinariums frequently die. In nations like Japan, activists are seeking to end dolphin hunting. But if you take a closer look at these mammals, you shall see that due to their high intelligence and capacity for a wide range of emotions, dolphins often experience despair when they are away from their families and other social groupings. Moreover, dolphins kept in captivity eventually lose several abilities needed for ocean survival, such as hunting.

When in their natural habitat, wild dolphins fight among themselves when there’s conflict, and some leave the group. In captivity, dolphins can experience violence from other dolphins that in the wild they might avoid by breaking away from the pack!

Cameron’s justification of his move

Cameron appeared to assert that the dolphins themselves agreed to join in the presentation after everyone had applauded it. He explained, “I love these animals, I love their intelligence. I love their sociability, their ability to connect with us and to interact with us and learn from us. And I’m sure everybody asked their permission to be in the show.”

Notable personalities share their take on the controversy

Furthermore, Bailey Mason, an activist, criticised the director. Mason said, “James Cameron, as a high-profile environmentalist, should never associate himself with the captivity of dolphins. Dolphin shows are cruel, not conservation.”

Parul Chheda, the Vice President Strategic Alliances at CoreStack shared her two cents on the controversy. “Having conviction and standing by it, no matter what, is a critical trait of a leader-Leadership 101. A disastrous show of leadership by Mr. Cameron with this PR tour where captive dolphins show was put up. Ironically, the movie emphasizes respect for oceanic world. For those who don't know the brutality that is rendered upon Cetaceans who are used in such shows, please google Taiji or watch the documentary movie "The Cove". With power comes responsibility where INTEGRITY is at the core." Mr. Cameron has sadly lost a big chunk of his fan club with this contradictory action.”

Can James Cameron be considered truly vegan?

In 2012, Cameron made the switch to a plant-based diet. He recently said that, in light of his conviction that this is the diet of the future, he now refers to himself as a "futurevore" as opposed to a vegan. The director has always been a vocal supporter of animals, so the video might surprise the vegan community. Even the 2009 animal rights film The Cove, which examines the Taiji dolphin hunt in Japan, was a product of his work. The dolphins that are killed during this hunt are frequently sold to marine parks like the one he visited. Moreover, the Game Changers, a 2018 Netflix film that examined the advantages of a vegan diet, was also executive produced by Cameron.

However, dolphin shows use animals for entertainment, thus going to one isn't regarded as being in line with a vegan lifestyle.